Mideast patriarchs plead for peace

Catholic News Service

3/31/16

BEIRUT - Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East, in their
Easter messages, pleaded for peace and urged their faithful
to regard the risen Christ as a sign of hope.

Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite Catholic patriarch,
said the world - particularly the "political community and
the rulers of nations" - badly needs "witnesses to the
Resurrection." He called for the resurrection of "humanity,
justice and peace" in his Easter message.

Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad said "the
situation in this part of the world is exceptionally tense,
the country is divided, parts of it are still occupied by the
Islamic State and the most painful thing is seeing that every
coalition is divided due to conflicts over interest and
leadership."

He urged the faithful "to rely on wisdom and patience and to
stay united together on the land where we were born (and
have) lived for 1,400 years together with Muslims, sharing
one civilization." He said he hoped for "a real resurrection,
a quick return of displaced to their homes, and a restoration
of peace at our churches, country and the whole world."

In an Easter homily in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy
Sepulcher, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal referred to the recent
bombings in Belgium and asked Bruno Jans, consul general of
Belgium in Jerusalem, who attended the Mass, to convey
condolences and prayers to his people and government.

"Through you, we say, it is all of us around the world whose
hearts are pierced by this tragedy," he said. "For you all,
we raise our prayers so that the hope of the Resurrection can
heal your wounds and console your broken hearts."

In Beirut, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan
urged the faithful "to never doubt the saving power of the
Lord resurrected and to never lose hope, just as our
courageous forefathers and mothers have long taught us for
centuries."

Syrian-born Melkite Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham in
Damascus said, "Today, after five years of violence, war,
destruction and bloodshed, the world discovers that the roads
of Damascus, Jerusalem and Palestine are connected as they
are the roads of faith, civilization and heritage."

"In the face of the tragedies of the peoples of our Middle
Eastern countries, especially in Syria and Iraq, we are all
walking on the path of Golgotha. But as the way of the cross
led to the glorious Resurrection, so we pray to get through
the way of the cross in Syria, especially to the joys of the
Resurrection," Patriarch Laham said.